Mercedes-Benz Beetle Is A Rare Rear-Engined Mercedes That Flopped Spectacularly

Before the beloved Volkswagen Beetle rolled off the assembly line in 1938 and became famous the world over, it was another automaker that made the decision to put compact, rear-engined cars on the road. And it so happened to also be “bug” cars. We’re talking about the Mercedes “Heckmotor” lineup, which included the 130, 150, and 170H, the latter of which was also known as” The Benz Beetle.”
 

Back in the 1930s, the German car manufacturer had long established itself as an important player in the upper-class car market, but the worldwide economic downturn of that period indicated that smaller, more affordable cars would be more in demand, so Mercedes set about to build “a car that had the driving characteristics of a large, independently sprung auto, the carrying comfort of a modern middle-class car, and the low running costs of a small car.”
 
Aiming to create an affordable car for the masses, Mercedes-Benz developed the rear-engined Typ 130, which was inspired by Edmund Rumpler’s aerodynamic designs for his 1921 Rumpler Tropfenwagen and was built on the W23 platform. The machine was powered by a 1.3-liter inline side-valve four-cylinder engine that developed 26 hp at 3400 rpm and gave the car a top speed of 92 kph (57 mph). It was liquid-cooled by a radiator located across the chassis, above the rear axles, and was mated to a three-speed transmission with overdrive.
 
It was shown to the world at the 1934 Berlin Auto Show and became the first mass-produced car to have an engine and rear propulsion. Though it was initially met with enthusiasm, the design had its shortcomings, especially in the handling department. As a result, the Typ 130 was replaced in 1936 by the Mercedes 170H, with the H in the name standing for “heckmotor” or “rear engine” in German, to distinguish the model from the front-engined Mercedes 170 V.
 
The Mercedes-Benz 170H, produced from 1935 to 1939, came with various improvements meant to increase power, improve handling, and enhance aerodynamics. The new rear-engined compact car was powered by an inline-four-cylinder 1,697cc engine rated for 38 hp, which allowed it to reach a top speed of 115 kph (32 mph). These numbers might not sound like much by today’s standards, but they were solid figures for the time.
 

The 170H also benefitted from advanced engineering for its time. Built on a backbone-type chassis, the car featured coil spring independent rear suspension with swing axles, independent front suspension with dual transverse leaf springs, a four-speed manual gearbox with semi-automatic overdrive, and four-wheel drum brakes.
 
However, despite all these innovations, the so-called Benz Beetle struggled to attract buyers. Various factors contributed to the lackluster sales of this model, including the higher price compared to the front-engined 170V, the precarious stability, smaller luggage compartment, and unconventional styling compared to traditional front-engined Mercedes models.
 
Unlike the Volkswagen Type 1, which was introduced in 1939, the same year the 170H stopped being produced, and which would end up selling tens of millions of units around the world, only 1,507 examples of The Benz Beetle (the last and best rear-engined Mercedes-Benz) were manufactured in total between 1935 and 1939.
 
The car represents an important though sorely underappreciated part of Mercedes-Benz history, and when a rare example is offered for sale, it tends to attract considerable attention.
 
Due to their unusual configuration, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany were not able to use them as generators during the war years, so many units managed to survive the conflict. However, well-preserved units are hard to come by. And sadly, due to its rarity, the 170H model is largely unknown to the public today. With the supply being extremely scarce, the car is very desirable among collectors.
 

The unit you see here is a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 170H that is offered for sale out of the Netherlands, with an asking price of just €64,900 (approximately $68,120 USD).
 
With its two-door configuration, rounded tail, and bug-like circular headlights, it bears many similarities to the Volkswagen Beetle, but whether Ferdinand Porsche had an influence on the development of this Mercedes or not is still being debated.
 
This particular unit is finished in red with black fenders and rides on black steel wheels with chrome hubcaps and whitewall tires. It also features front and rear chrome bumpers and the distinctive central headlight this model is known for. Though it is not instantly recognizable as a Mercedes, it still has the famous three-pointed star above the central headlight, albeit it’s not encircled as in later Mercedes models.
 
The interior features black suede seats and a red dashboard, with vintage gauges and instruments. According to the listing on Car and Classic, this example has previously undergone a restoration and has been in a private collection for a long time after that. Though the restoration was never fully completed, there is little finishing work to be done. Documentation of the restoration, as well as various spare parts, are included in the sale.